"It was an All-Star Game," said Andrew Bynum, who was on the Western Conference All-Star's bench in Orlando at the time of the foul. "I don't understand what that was all about. It was crazy."

Added Pau Gasol: "I think it was out of place, out of line, for the moment and the game that it was, but I don't think he intended to break his nose. He just fouled him kind of hard there and got his nose. But again, I don't think it was the place to foul like that."

"It's always entertaining to me to hear people talk about our relationship as if they know really what's going on and try to say there's something between them and all this other stuff.

It was very simple. He didn't mean to do it. It's just something that just happens. He's not that type of person."

With Bryant willing to acknowledge that Wade had no dirty intentions behind the foul, the conspiracy theories should be put to bed.

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It was a hard foul with an unfortunate outcome.

But that doesn't mean that Bryant will just forget about it and move on. He doesn't just forget about anything.

The Lakers superstar turned heads with his jaw-dropping performance on Wednesday night against the Timberwolves.

Making an unbelievably swift recovery from a concussion and wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, Kobe dropped 31 points to go along with seven rebounds and eight assists in a game many thought he would sit out.

Bryant was second to just Pau Gasol (plus-33) with his plus-28 performance in a matchup his team won by 19 points, 104-85.

Now the focus is centered around Wade and Bryant for Sunday's upcoming contest between Miami and Los Angeles.

With the two set to go head-to-head in a matchup that will draw a huge national audience, Kobe will put his friendship with Dwyane aside to make a point.

It's all about basketball for Bryant, and he'll use the game against Miami to deliver a message to Wade, the Heat and the rest of the NBA.

Kobe will be eager to exact revenge in the best way he knows how—with a dominant performance.